Who uses Adult Day Care?Who Might Benefit from Adult Day Care?

Who Uses Adult Day Care?

Adult day services give an alternative and supplement home care. The services offered allow another option to those who need extra help during the day. So, for people looking to move to an assisted living facility or a nursing home to receive that extra care, a viable option is an adult daycare.

The day care centers enable continued community-based living for individuals with physical and cognitive limitations and provide respite for their caregivers.

According to the National Adult Day Services Association, adult day care centers provide coordinated programs of professional and compassionate services for adults in a community-based group setting.

Adults and elderly enjoy adult day care

The services provide social and some health services to adults who need supervised care in a safe place outside the home during the day.

Leading facts on Adult Day Care

The average age of the adult day center care recipient is 72

Two-thirds of all adult day center care recipients are women

Thirty-five percent of the adult day center care recipients live with an adult child

20% with a spouse

18% in an institutional setting

13% with parents or other relatives

11% live alone

Fifty-two percent of the adult day center care recipients using adult day services centers nationwide have some cognitive impairment

Families and caregivers use adult day care centers to get relief from ones duties for the day while knowing that a loved one receives proper care in a safe, friendly environment.

Day care centers operate during normal business hours five days a week, and some centers also offer additional services during evenings and weekends. Currently, there are more than 4,000 of these programs operating in the United States.

The average age of a person receiving day care is 72, but let's not forget the younger adult living with a disability need daytime care too. It's an important option, if they choose to live at home with parents full-time. Adult day service programs fill in after public school ends. For them, adult daycare provides continued structure to maintain emotional and mental balance and continuity after leaving the school system.

Parents find adult day service providers that offer developmental classes to help a young adult become more independent as they age.

Ideal Candidates for Adult Day Care

Social engagement

Respite care and adult day care is an important care option for millions of family caregivers who give unpaid in-home care for elderly relatives, disabled adults, friends, or neighbors.

Respite caregivers and adult day care programs monitor and provide companionship to elders and adults for a short period of time during the day, so that their family members or regular caregivers can take a break or deal with other responsibilities.

When your loved one isn't able to care for herself or to perform routine daily activities, she may need adult day care. However, getting help with daily tasks is just one reason many seniors and their families opt for adult day care services.

Seniors and Adults Who Feel Isolated

Lynn Hampstead, 78, began adult day care as a way to meet up with friends and peers to have social engagement. "I was lonely at home all day while my daughter's family was out. They went to work and school, and I just sat there without much to do." Lynn admits that when her daughter first suggested the idea, she was reluctant. However, she enjoys spending time with peers and getting out of the house.

Seniors and Adults Who Feel Depressed

For people like Lynn, feelings of isolation leads to loneliness and eventually depression. Over time, long-term depression leads to other health complications. Routinely scheduled activity even as little as two or three times a week gives participants something to look forward to and help prevent loneliness and depression.

Seniors and Adults Who Need Help With Medications and Meals

It's common for seniors to forget to take medications or to take additional doses of a medicine because they don't remember taking it the first time. Either way, the consequences of improper usages is very serious and life-threatening. When seniors need help monitoring medications, adult day care is helpful.

Meals are the perfect time for adults to have social engagements with friends and peers. It's an opportunity to celebrate, have fun, and share memories. Group interaction and delicious, nutritious foods help turn lunches and snacks into a delightful event.

Delicious and nutritious meals offered at no extra cost. Special diets meet health concerns for those living with chronic conditions. And assistance at meal time is usually available.

Seniors and Adults Who Have Alzheimer's Disease, Memory Loss and Other Medical Complications

Living alone at home all day without supervision is not safe for loved ones with Alzheimer's disease. Adult day care centers can help care for them during the day. Some families do not want to move a loved one into a nursing home facility for several reasons, one being cost of care.

Day care services allow family caregivers to keep their jobs and have their loved ones at home with them in the evenings.

Seniors and Adults Whose Family Caregivers Need Help

Being a full-time caregiver is a difficult job. For family caregivers, choosing adult day care is a way to keep the family intact while seniors get special attention and a place to have social engagement. For full-time caregivers, adult day care centers give them a much deserved break and an opportunity to meet life's others demands.

Find out what your loved one wants to do with her time and look for an adult day care that meets her needs and wants. Be honest in your expectations and with what you are able to do on your own. Help your loved one build a sense of independence and don't fall prey to feelings of guilt.

Adult day care helps aging and other loved ones to stay where they most want to - in their homes and with their families.

After seven years of helping her aging parents, Carol Marak has become a dedicated senior care writer. Since 2007, she has been doing the research to find answers to common concerns: housing, aging and health, staying safe and independent, and planning long-term.